With Easter just around the corner, many households are preparing for the extra-long weekend. As with Christmas, traffic increases significantly during Easter, and the weather is unpredictable with chances of everything from snow to mild summer temperatures.
By analyzing statistics from the Swedish Transport Agency, Dina Försäkringar has identified the roads where most accidents with personal injuries occur during the Easter holiday. The analysis reveals a clear pattern regarding which roads are most affected and when the accidents take place.
“Easter is one of the most intense travel weekends of the year. Many people drive long distances, often under time pressure, which increases the risk of accidents,” says Victor Öberg, vehicle insurance expert at Dina Försäkringar.
The major European highways—E4, E18, E6, and E20—have the highest traffic volumes. It is also these roads that top the accident statistics. According to Öberg, their high placement on the list is mainly due to traffic volume. At the same time, they are generally safer with median barriers and a higher standard.
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The highest number of accidents occur on Maundy Thursday and Easter Monday, when many people travel to and from their destinations. Since Easter this year also falls in early April, it can mean varying road conditions in large parts of the country. While winter conditions may still prevail in northern Sweden, dry or wet roads are more common further south.
“Those who can avoid traveling on Maundy Thursday and Easter Monday usually enjoy a much smoother journey. At the same time, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather, as road conditions can vary greatly during Easter. This needs to be considered in your planning.”
High Speed
Speed is cited as a decisive factor in many accidents, both for whether an accident occurs at all and for how severe the consequences become. Other factors include fatigue and alcohol, which lower concentration and impair reaction ability.
The roads with the highest number of accidents during the Easter weekend over the past five years:
E4 Helsingborg – Sundsvall
E18 Stockholm – Enköping
E6 Malmö – Helsingborg, passing Gothenburg
E20 Malmö – Stockholm
E22 Malmö – Lund, Kalmar – Norrköping
E45 Gothenburg – Östersund
E14 Sundsvall – Åre
55 Norrköping – Uppsala
56 Norrköping – Gävle
40 Västervik – Gothenburg
70 Enköping – Idre
51 Norrköping – Örebro
27 Karlskrona – Gothenburg
26 Kristinehamn – Mora
30 Jönköping – Växjö
28 Karlskrona – Vetlanda
76 Gävle – Östhammar
61 Karlstad – Norwegian border
50 Ludvika – Borlänge
19 Ystad – Östanå
The Weather
And what about the Easter weather? According to the forecast, temperatures in southern Sweden on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday will be above zero, reaching up to 13 degrees Celsius or more. Further north will be colder, with temperatures from minus five to minus eight degrees and rather sunny conditions.
“It will be quite sunny with a high-pressure area in the north, but further south conditions will be less stable,” says TV4’s meteorologist Madeleine Westin.
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